Water is a limited and natural resource. Greater Sydney's population is growing rapidly and expectations for more liveable cities are creating new and increased demands for water. This in turn places additional pressure on our water supplies.

To add to this pressure, urbanisation also has impacts on our local communities’ water needs and waterways. An increasingly variable and changing climate means we can't know with certainty how much rainfall will support our water supply system in the future.

The NSW Government's 2017 Metropolitan Water Plan is the response to these challenges and pressures. The plan’s main goal is to secure water for a liveable, growing and resilient greater Sydney. It establishes key strategies to be implemented over the life of the plan. It will also set us on a pathway towards a water supply system that meets greater Sydney’s needs for the next 50 years.